Featured civil war toy called a whizzer (1851 Large cent with two holes)

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019.

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  1. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    A string was laced through the holes, tied at the ends to make a loop. placed on each thumb and spin the coin until the string is wound up, then pull briskly making a "whizzing sound" rewinding itself and making another brisk pull to make another "whizzing sound.
     

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    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Yep. With two holes, like that, they're "whizzers", or "buzzers". You'll also see these with gear-like sawtooth edges and a single hole in the middle, from when they were used as pie crimping tools.
     
    lordmarcovan, Jan 1, 2019
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  4. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    That coin above looks like it was used as button ?
     
    spirityoda, Jan 1, 2019
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  5. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    THIS is why I love this site, VERY informative, thank you
     
    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  6. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

    We made "whizzers" with large buttons as a child. I never used a coin.
    The weight if it would have made it go better i'm sure.
     
    alurid, Jan 1, 2019
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  7. Maxfli

    Maxfli Well-Known Member

    I can remember as a kid seeing these made from large buttons.
     
    Maxfli, Jan 1, 2019
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  8. Maxfli

    Maxfli Well-Known Member

    Ha! Great minds...
     
    Maxfli, Jan 1, 2019
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  9. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    Now you got me wanting to dig through cull boxes looking for holed large cents with saw teeth at flea mkts
     
    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  10. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    You should!

    Check this out.
    *
     
    lordmarcovan, Jan 1, 2019
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  11. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I love a coin with a story. Many would call that cent damaged. To me it tells a story of kids entertaining themselves with the toy that Paw made. Very cool post and the reason that I too love my dealers bargain box.
     
    Randy Abercrombie, Jan 1, 2019
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  12. Bambam8778

    Bambam8778 Well-Known Member

    We had a whizzer when I was a kid however it was not made form a coin. Probably some cheap garbage from China. Pretty neat write up. Thanks.
     
    Bambam8778, Jan 1, 2019
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  13. Ima Dragon

    Ima Dragon Year of the Dragon

    Great story to start the New Year . I too enjoy the stories behind the coins , you just never know what you'll come across .
     
    Ima Dragon, Jan 1, 2019
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  14. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    You ever play with one of these? We did when I was a kid, and it was a lot of fun.

    Probably too dangerous for kids nowadays, they'd smack themselves in the head and the parents would go to jail.
     
    physics-fan3.14, Jan 1, 2019
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  15. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    actually I had to string this one up. being a heavy coin that thing really sounds off lol
     
    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  16. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Yes, but buttons that big were the fashion in the late 1700s. By the mid-1800s, they had gone out of fashion. So I suspect this coin was indeed a buzzer toy. But had it been a dime with two holes like that - or even a small cent- I'd think button.

    Which is not to suggest there weren't buttons made from large cents. There almost certainly were. You could very well be right.

    Buzzers also tend to have the holes more widely spaced than two-hole buttons, I think.
     
    lordmarcovan, Jan 1, 2019
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  17. rooman9

    rooman9 Lovin Shiny Things

    As one of the kids from these days I used to have one. Ours was just a silver dollar sized circle of wood. But we had a lot of fun with it.

    We used to get it going real fast and then touch the others skin when they weren't looking so the friction would burn them a little. And no my parents aren't in jail because of it ;)
     
    rooman9, Jan 1, 2019
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  18. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    yes I played with one also made from a large button but got a thrashing when I got too close to my sisters hair..oops
     
    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  19. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Imagine the look you would get if you went up to the average 21st century child, asked him to put down the digital device in his hands, and play with something like that. o_O

    Ha! Priceless.

    Then again, you never know, considering the recent fidget spinner fad...
     
    lordmarcovan, Jan 1, 2019
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  20. Southernman189

    Southernman189 Well-Known Member

    whattttttttt? and have them put down the cell phone??? Are you KIDDING?
     
    Southernman189, Jan 1, 2019
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  21. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    Whizzer...
     
    CoinCorgi, Jan 1, 2019
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